Berkshire Blues Bash

with Roomful of Blues and Special Guest Walter Parks, and Grits and Groceries Orchestra

Sat, July 29, 3 to 8pm at Ski Butternut

“The eight-member “little big band” rocks and swings the blues with a contagious enthusiasm that will send you running for your dancing shoes!” Chicago Blues Guide

“A listen to Parks’ soulful Americana rock is to be immersed in warm guitar melodies, smoky vocals and troubadour narratives,”New York Public Radio wnyc.org

Based out of Boston, Grits & Groceries Orchestra and their performance is tour de force. “These guys are TIGHT!” The Noise / Music New England

“Phil Pemberton’s voice can ache with tenderness, or rattle the rafters with its power,” Boston Globe

Roomful of Blues’ has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger. Singer Phil Pemberton brings his sweet and soulful vocals to the band’s sound, adding a bright dimension to the jazzy, jump-blues musical roots. The winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul is their calling card, as is their ability to fill the dance floor. Along with members, bassist John Turner, trumpeter Doug Woolverton, drummer Chris Rivelli, and keyboardist Rusty Scott, and baritone and tenor saxophonist Mark Earley, tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille , Roomful of Blues just keeps on rockin!

“Based out of Boston, Grits & Groceries Orchestra is a tour de force. John Anthony plays one hell of a melodic bass also lending some nice lead vocals. Robert Lyons delivers some insanely great tenor saxophone, whose sound pierces the atmosphere with mind boggling ease. Charlie O’Neal on guitar, plays as if everything he did so well in his performance, was simply an epic warm up to what he proceeds to do now. Kemp Dunn on drums, easily equals the flawless talent of the rest of the band, “ Music New England

Walter Parks

“A listen to Parks’ soulful Americana rock is to be immersed in warm guitar melodies, smoky vocals and troubadour narratives,” New York Public Radio wnyc.org

“Walter Parks is an extraordinary singer whose songs can break your heart as well as get you dancing. Lyrical and political, personal and otherworldly at the same time, transcendent as well as down to earth, Walter is a musical treasure, an artist of the highest caliber. I adore him.” Judy Collins

Over the past three decades, Walter Parks has forged a distinctive international career as the lead guitarist for Woodstock legend Richie Havens, half of the cello-guitar duo The Nudes, and as guitarist and leader of the southern blues group Swamp Cabbage. Known for his’ raspy vocal lows and soaring operatic falsetto run, his original music is inspired by the gospel blues that wails from storefront churches and roadhouses in and around the southeast Georgia low country.

Berkshire Blues Bash is a day-long feast of the best live blues music, as well as beer, great summer food, and barefoot dancing!

Rain or Shine.

Concert is part of The Barn at Butternut Berkshire Bash Series presented by The Barn and Artistic License